Josh Feldman is a queer actor, writer, and producer from Los Angeles. He also happens to be deaf. His new series This Close follows two deaf friends as they navigate through their late 20s and early 30s.

Feldman created the dramedy with his BFF Shoshanah Stern, who is also deaf.

“We realized that we should write something that’s very ‘us’,” Feldman tells Out in a new interview. “Something we know best: friendship between a woman and a gay man.”

The project is unique for a number of reasons, most notably because it will be the first TV show created by and starring deaf people, who are usually portrayed on-screen by non-deaf actors.

“Most deaf characters in other shows speak because it’s easier for hearing audiences to access the dialogue,” Feldman explains. “I don’t speak at all. So when I meet a hearing person, they expect me to speak for myself because that’s what they’ve seen on TV.”

Feldman plays Michael, a young gay man going through a turbulent time in his personal life.

“During my twenties, the periods of biggest personal growth happened after breakups,” he says. “And that includes bad decisions. I wanted him to make those because eventually they lead to growth but not for a while.”

SiamSam

What about those who identify as deaf but were assigned hearing at birth? In our oppressive auro-normative society, the transaural community demands you use sign language and pay for their cochlea neutralization therapy or you support audio supremacy and deafness-phobia.

January 27, 2018 at 8:01am

Tête Carrée

Just don’t watch the show and save us your dink act.

January 28, 2018 at 8:01am

Brody

SiamSam
Giving a newborn the gift (yes gift) of hearing is not a means of repression of those who are deaf. Be happy with your life but playing the oppressed because a newborn can now hear is pathetic. Life is not all about you.

February 5, 2018 at 3:02pm

spacecadet

I’m really interested to see this – it looks smart and thoughtful and funny.